International Women's Day 2020

International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on the 8th of March every year. This day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women while acknowledging that there is a road ahead for women in some communities. The day has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 and famous early participants including Rosa Luxemburg in Germany and Sylvia Pankhurst in the UK. 

The IRMS, and indeed our wider Information Profession, has always been characterised by equal representation of both genders. On this International Women’s Day, the IRMS would like to acknowledge the road travelled so far and indeed the road ahead for many women around the world. In many ways we are lucky in the UK and in many ways, there is more work to be done, both internationally and at home. 

The IWD’s #EachforEqual campaign for 2020 is about an equal world being an enabled world. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions. We can actively choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate everyone’s achievements regardless of who they are or where they have come from.

We are always looking for more ways to support all those in our Society to grow and achieve their full professional potential, so if you think there are ways we could do more then please do get in touch. One of the various ways we currently support our members is via our mentoring scheme where members can get access to someone senior in the profession (from across various backgrounds and genders) and learn from them. If this is something that could benefit you, please visit irms.org.uk/Mentoring to see if you would like a mentor or even if you have the time and capacity to be a mentor and help grow an information and records manager of the future. 

Everyone that is involved with the IRMS is motivated, valuable and makes the Society what it is today. However, for International Women’s Day we just wanted to take a moment to celebrate our women volunteers for all that you do, for helping make the profession and society a better place and for being you.

#IWD2020